Hugo Keenan looking to learn from Chelsea's Wembley heartache

HUGO'S HEARTACHE: Energia ambassador and Irish Rugby International, Hugo Keenan was speaking as part of Energia’s #HalfAFan campaign.Pic Credit: Ben Brady, Inpho.

Hugo Keenan seems like a glass half-full kinda guy.

Injured and in the stands for Ireland’s Six Nations win against Wales in Dublin on Saturday, he was in the Wembley stands the day after when his beloved Chelsea lost to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

You could feel entitled to a right good mope after a weekend like that, but the Leinster full-back has missed as few games as he has dropped high balls in God-knows-how-long and, anyway, there is good news in the form of an imminent return.

He was able yesterday to give an encouraging update on the knee injury picked up against Italy over three weeks ago.

Signs are the safest hands outside of soccer will be ready for the Six Nations tie away to England next Saturday week.

All going well, he’ll have missed one game. A man can live with.

Keenan has seen players battle long-term fitness issues, or empty their lockers far the last time because of injuries.

Guys like Will Connors, who made his Ireland debut on the same day, but has endured too many spells on sick leave.

He thinks of Conor O’Brien, the Leinster centre who was forced to retire aged 26 with a persistent hamstring problem. And Martin Moloney, his provincial clubmate who has been scourged by fitness issues.

“You can’t really be feeling sorry for yourself to be missing one match, you have to take the chance to use it to get one or two other injuries right, a few little niggles, and use it as a chance to get better and make the most of the time.” And, he said, as a source of motivation.

He made the same point about Chelsea’s defeat, a game he watched with two friends of the red persuasion and in their end. Keeping his emotions in check through the 120 minutes was one thing, the aftermath maybe worse.

The rest of the Chelsea faithful streamed homewards at the final whistle, he was stuck there for 45 minutes as the opposition celebrated. It got him thinking of some of his own disappointments, with Leinster in Europe, and with Ireland at the World Cup.

“The main learning, and the main way I will be using it, is to add that extra bit of motivation to be that person or that player on the pitch lifting the trophy with friends and family, doing it for them.” 

That’s about as close as he, or any of his teammates, have come to straining their necks beyond the here and now and towards a possible Grand Slam tilt against Scotland on St Patrick’s weekend.

England are not a good rugby team but the perception remains of Twickenham as a tough place to go and, while Ciarán Frawley slotted in comfortably at 15 against Wales, Keenan would add a layer of comfort.

England have their own talking points at full-back.

Freddie Steward started their opening two games against Italy and Wales. Then Steve Borthwick turned towards George Furbank for what turned out to be a defeat to the Scots in Edinburgh. Furbank, like Frawley, would be more of the playmaker.

“Yeah, it gives another extra element to your backline. Like, George Furbank is an incredible player for Northampton this season, he's been knocking on the door that way. Freddie Steward I thought actually played two brilliant games in the opening two games as well.

“So it's healthy competition, a bit like myself and Frawley have now, but you've got a role as a 15 to help out-halves, make their job a bit easier, to help the centres, to do a bit of that playmaking and bring that ball playing element to it.”

Few do it better than himself.

Energia ambassador Hugo Keenan was speaking as part of Energia’s #HalfAFan campaign. As proud partner of Ireland Men’s and Women’s rugby teams, Energia understands that being a partner to both teams means showing support for both,- so don't just be #HalfAFan.”